Sharna Johnson: CNJ Staff Writer Freedom Communications, parent company of Freedom New Mexico, filed a petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday but said operations aren’t expected to change. The filing was done, “along with a plan-support agreement executed by a steering committee of (Freedom’s) lenders,” according to a company press release. “(The company) has sufficient […]

CNJ staff photo: Liliana Castillo More than 50 vultures have claimed a patch of trees on city property north of North Plains Mall as their roost. The birds leave their roost to search for food during the day, according to Wildlife Biologist Tony Gennaro, and return each evening. By Liliana Castillo: CNJ staff writer More […]

By Eric Butler: Freedom New Mexico Prairie dogs aren’t exactly held in the highest regard by those who make a living off the land. In fact, many local farmers, ranchers and developers view the small mammal mostly as a pest to be rid of. Joann Haddock of Lorenzo, Texas and her partner Susan Hubby of […]

CNJ staff photo: Liliana Castillo Central Baptist Church is “planting” a new church, called The Vine Community Church, to appeal to those who prefer a progressive program over a traditional one. By Liliana Castillo: CNJ staff writer The Central Baptist Church staff knows they aren’t the church for everyone. They also know that not everyone […]

By Argen Duncan: Freedom New Mexico Local health officials are keeping an eye out for swine flu, but aren’t advising any precautions other than basic health tips. After a recent outbreak in Mexico, swine flu has also been confirmed in the United States, Canada, Scotland and Spain, but not in New Mexico. The disease is […]

By Tibor Machan: Freedom columnist Dictionaries aren’t decisive about what the central meaning of terms are; they are mostly descriptions of common usage. For definitions of the meaning of important and controversial concepts — some call them “essentially contestable” ones — it is necessary to read books or encyclopedia entries. This is how I generally […]

Cannon Connections photo: Argen Duncan Cannon Air Force Base Community Readiness Consultant Linda Sapp has recommendations for military personnel trying to protect their finances in the midst of the country’s economic troubles. By Argen Duncan: Cannon Connections Military personnel aren’t immune from the country’s economic troubles, especially when it comes to selling houses, but they […]

By Sharna Johnson: CNJ staff writer Numbers may not lie, but right now they apparently aren’t telling anybody anything either. Officials say gross receipts tax revenues, which not only line coffers of local government but also serve as an indicator of consumer spending, have been inconsistent in recent months. December’s 12 percent drop in gross […]

Any doubt that Congress is still in the grip of entrenched special interests, in this case the powerful teachers unions, is belied by a provision in the omnibus spending bill passed by the House last week and working its way through the Senate. It would effectively end a successful program offering widened educational opportunity to […]

By Dennis J. Carroll: The New Mexican Advocates and families of the developmentally disabled, in the midst of a Roundhouse lobbying push for funding vital to the well-being of those in their care, hope they aren’t just being “niced to death” by state lawmakers. “In the last three days we’ve heard nothing but a willingness […]

Freedom New Mexico It’s Black Friday; do you know where your Christmas shoppers are at? Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving is when the holiday shopping season moves into high gear. Today has become known as Black Friday because it’s when many American retailers start to tip over from “red” deficit spending to keep their doors […]

By Tibor Machan: Freedom New Mexico columnist Any time I run across some piece of writing that contains the assertions that the world, especially the United States, has been in the grips of market fundamentalism or the doctrine of laissez-faire capitalism, I tend to drop everything and pen a firm response. It’s a lie, nothing […]

By Kevin Wilson: CNJ staff writer Curry County officials said Monday they are working on detention center changes in the wake of a prison escape, but they aren’t ready to reveal what that work entails. Curry County Manager Lance Pyle released a prepared statement Monday that said neither he nor the Curry County Commission are […]

By Sharna Johnson: CNJ staff writer A preliminary independent assessment of the Curry County Adult Detention Center is in but officials aren’t talking about what it says. County commissioners spent more than 2 1/2 hours in a closed, executive session with consultants on Wednesday, discussing the assessment of the jail, which was prompted by an […]

By Kevin Wilson: CNJ staff writer New Mexico residents aren’t seeing red. Since food establishments pulled tomatoes due to Salmonella risks on Friday, local restaurants are noticing a visual impact on food, but not much else. “Nobody’s really said anything about it,” said Misty Baca, a store manager at Clovis’ Mabry Street Dairy Queen. “We […]

By Clyde Davis: CNJ Columnist For Savannah and Kayla, one of the key elements is competition. They like the part about Orlando, they like the Sea World plans, but the drawing card is the chance to compete. No, they aren’t Clovis Municipal Schools athletes, nor band members — at least not in this context. The […]

CNJ staff photo: Liliana Castillo Louisa Ytuarte of Portales brought her butterfly kite out of the air because there wasnâ€™t enough wind to keep it in the air, she said. Ytuarte, an invited flyer at the Kite Karnival, is a member of the American Kite-flying Association. By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer Dennis Ware knows […]

By Kevin Wilson: CNJ staff writer The seats aren’t quite as full as they used to be at Cattle Baron. “I’m seeing it’s going to stay the same,” general manager Nick Bara said. “Kind of mediocre.” The steakhouse, a staple of Portales, averaged about $7,500 on a good Friday night a year ago. Now it […]

Freedom Newspapers The search for meaning, motives and culprits in the Virginia Tech shootings began even before all the next of kin were notified, as Americans again tried to make sense of the senseless. But we can almost guarantee that the self flagellations and legislative overreactions to come — are there doubts that we will […]